ATHLETES from across Huntingdonshire were out in force for the Cambridgeshire County Cross Country Championships hosted by Riverside Runners at Priory Park, St Neots on Sunday.

ATHLETES from across Huntingdonshire were out in force for the Cambridgeshire County Cross Country Championships hosted by Riverside Runners at Priory Park, St Neots on Sunday.

Clear skies and sunshine made for good running conditions and, as always, the competition was of a high standard.

Sammie Skinner led the Hunts AC haul of 27 team and individual medals, winning the women’s U20 race by 38 seconds

The men’s veteran team of Andy Richardson, Shane Hunt, and Sean Barker picked up the team gold medal.

Individual silver medals went to James Downing, who finished just seven seconds behind the winner of the U15 Boys race, Julia McIntosh in the W45 event, and Andy Richardson in the M50 race.

Sean Barker and Shane Hunt picked up bronze medals in the M40 and M50 races respectively.

Following their results at the championships, several Hunts AC runners were selected to represent the county at the upcoming Inter-Counties Championships. They included Polly Smith (U13G), Katie Scholey (U15G), James Downing (U15B), Eleanor Smith (U17W) and Christina Marshall (U20W). Faye McLellan (U15G) and Sammie Skinner (Senior Women) have been selected as Cambridgeshire’s first reserves in their age groups.

The home club entered fewer runners than in previous years, with Will Mackay top finisher in sixth place in the men’s 10k race in 37.04.

Sam Windebank won silver in the vet 35 age group, qualifying as first reserve for the Inter-Counties Championships.

In the Men’s U17 race, Matt Nicholson finished second, just ahead of team-mate Ollie McGlashan. With Kurt Sanders, who came 12th, they picked up silver in the team competition, just three seconds from the gold.

In the Girls U13 race, Catherine Hemingway was ninth and secured a place as first reserve for the Inter-Counties, while brother Tom was 12th in the U15 Boys race.

At U11 level, Riverside took gold through Ewan Frolick, who covered the 1.7km in 7mins 17secs, while Maisie Pritchard was eighth in the Girls U11 race.

There was also a good turnout at the younger age groups, which were contested keenly by pupils from across the county.

More than 70 junior school children took part in the U11 race, with strong entries from Crosshall Juniors and Priory Junior School.

Diketso Karas was the first girl home for Crosshall in the U11 Girls race, finishing ninth, with Morris Seaton the best-placed boy in 10th. In the U13 Girls race, Elisha Earle was 29th, and in the Boys race, Scott Thomas finished 37th.